slow down a bit?”
His fingers spasmed as if he were trying to anticipate my next move, but I didn't try to spin like he expected. Instead, I leaned to the side and only turned my head. Is he asking me on a date? After making fun of Axton?
His eyes were closed, and his breathing a touch too fast. The buzzing, electric emotions that were slapping me erratically indicated his nerves, but I wasn't certain what had caused them. After all, we'd been fucking for a good while. We lived together. But, I supposed, we'd never gone anywhere together for fun—not alone, anyway.
“Sure,” I answered, returning to rest against his chest.
He deflated, then tensed up again, and my hair tickled my face as he blew out a breath.
His fingers released their grip, and he slowly backed away, taking care that I didn't fall backwards before saying, “Well, okay, then. I've got to go for now.”
He pivoted and rushed off before I could even turn around, so I called out, “We brought food if you want any!”
He didn't stop, and by the time I entered the gathering room, he'd disappeared. I stood there, one hand on my hip, the other full of a wet shirt as I stared at the front door. My brows were furrowed, and I chewed on my cheek as I tried to puzzle out the change in him. Why is he running? I've been gone, and he only stayed a few moments before leaving. Was that all he could take of me? Maybe he found someone else while I'd been away.
I didn't like the things that my mind kept coming up with. The thoughts mixed with the nearly incessant whispers of how I wouldn't ever be good enough and how I should just move along to my next life.
Thankfully, Kian swept in, scattering the words in my head. He picked me up, swinging me in a wide circle. His toothy grin and sparkling eyes wouldn't allow me to hang on to those dark things.
“Put her down,” Axton said dryly.
“Nah, I like how she feels in my arms,” Kian responded, but he slowed to a stop.
When he stood still, he adjusted me, wrapping my legs around his waist. With a wink, he tilted his head up and puckered his lips. I didn't immediately lean down for a kiss, so he batted his tipped lashes and kissed the air.
I laughed and wrapped my arms around his neck, letting the wet shirt dangle down his back. He didn't complain as it dampened his shirt. In fact, a twist of his amusement spiraled through me, and my insides wanted to sing.
I answered his wordless request, touching my lips to his. He seemed to relax a bit, but even as his muscles loosened, he took control of the kiss. Where I'd felt a blissful relief only moments before, heat bloomed, and that giddy, wobbly sensation in my gut kicked in.
Axton's voice droned on in the background, but I couldn't pay any attention to it. Not while I remained trapped inside of the bubble that always accompanied a heated interaction with Kian. I still had no idea why it happened with him, but I'd reaped Fae before, so I had a suspicion.
It wasn't quite the same as I'd lived through in the Fae souls' memories, but it resembled the connection between Fae mates. They had no problem with fucking numerous partners. In fact, they encouraged it, but something special happened when mates came together. Even friends and family could cause the reaction—without the sexual component, of course. It was more a linking of hearts, rather than a fun time between the sheets. It was also something that I didn't want to think about.
The kiss slowed, and a smile tipped the corners of his lips as he whispered a breathless, “Hey.”
“Hey,” I said, mine just as wispy.
Our chests rose and fell as we took in ragged breaths, and I curled myself so that I could hug him tightly. He ran rather hot as well. So when combined with that Kian-specific thing, I could relax and not worry about all the shit that played in my head. Kian was like my very own contentment tab but so much stronger.
An arm came between Kian and I, separating us, and Kian groused, “What are you doing? Can't you see she's happy where she's at?”
Axton shrugged before saying, “Sorry, little one. It's my turn to say hello.”
He tugged me from Kian, and I loosened my legs around Kian's waist.
In